Utility tray



Ma 1964 A. M. CHRISTENSEN 3,126,100

UTILITY TRAY Filed Sept. 20, 1962 svor wsu: 3

2? 2% 4%74722 Mar/325;

United States Patent 3,126,100 UTILITY TRAY Antone M. Christensen, 7033Earl NW., Seattle 7, Wash. Filed Sept. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 225,031 6Claims. (Cl. 211-126) This invention relates to a device for supportingaccessories within easy reach of the operator of a machine tool andrelates more particularly to a utility tray adjustably supportable on amachine tool column near the operator.

Every machine tool such as a drill press has numerous accessories foruse with the machine or for assisting in the care and maintenancethereof. In most workshops and machine shops such items are maintainedon a nearby table or in a tool box or the like. If the accessories arekept in the open such as on a Work bench they are often subject to beingdamaged from other tools nearby or to being covered by sawdust or woodor metal chips or shavings. In this manner they can be easily misplaced.Moreover, the convenience with which the operator may choose theparticular item he desires is obviously dependent on the distance of thetable from the tool or the accessibility of a particular item within atool box. Inconvenience to the operator may cause a safety hazard byrequiring him to concentrate on something other than the work with whichhe is engaged.

It is therefore a particular object of this invention to provide adevice which will hold accessories for a machine tool within easy reachof the operator.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of such adevice wherein the accessories are maintained separate from other toolsthereby protecting the same from damage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is easily adjustable for use with a variety of machinetools and which may be moved vertically up and down, horizontally backand forth and tilted as desired by the operator.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which is inexpensive to manufacture and sturdyand dependable in use.

Other and further objects of the invention reside in the combination ofelements, arrangement of parts, and features of construction.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outas the description of the invention proceeds and as shown in theaccompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed preferred embodiments ofthe inventive concepts.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows the utility tray of the instant invention in perspectiveas it would be attached to a column on a machine tool.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, partly in section, of the device of the instantinvention.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view of the same device.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the device taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the device taken from the to FIGURE 1,reference numeral 10 generally indicates the utility tray of the instantinvention. The device will be slidingly supported on a column 12 formingpart of amachine tool generally indicated by 14. The tray portion isvertically adjustable on the column 12, horizontally adjustable on itsbracket and tiltable about its connecting means as will be explainedmore fully hereinafter.

As shown in FIGURES 2 to 4, 8 and 9, the device of the instant inventionis comprised of a tray 16 having a generally rectangular bottom 18 andupstanding side flanges 20, 22 and 24 preferably on three edges only ofthe bottom 18. A member 26 having a downwardly extending flange 28 isfixed to the bottom of the tray 16 by any conventional means such asspot welding. A U-shaped bracket 30 is provided having two leg portions32 and 34 and a flat vertical connecting portion 36. Each of the legportions 32 and 34 have a V-shaped notch 38 remote from the end attachedto the connecting portion 36' adapted to engage the column 12. Anelongated band 40 is formed into a circle with its end in overlappingrelationship. Holes are defined adjacent each end of the elongated band40 and similar holes are defined through the connecting portion 36 ofthe bracket 30 and the depending flange 28 of the member 26. A bolt 42is insertable through all of the holes as shown most clearly in FIGURE8. A wing nut 44 or the like is fastenable on the bolt 42 in theconventional manner.

One end 46 of the elongated band 40 may be folded back over the head ofthe bolt 42 thereby retaining the bolt against rotation with itsthreaded portion extending through the hole defined in that end of theelongated band. A plurality of holes may be defined in the other end ofthe elongated band 40 in order to render adjustable the diameter of thecircle formed by the elongated band when its ends are in overlappingrelationship. One such additional hole is shown at 48 in FIGURES 8 and9. The device may be given additional adjustability by providing aplurality of holes such as shown at 50, 52 and 54 in the dependingflange 28 of the member 26. Note particularly FIGURES 5 to 7. In thismanner the bolt 42 may be selectively inserted through one of the holes50, 52, 54 to move the tray portion 16 with respect to the bracket 30and thus with respect to the column 12. FIGURE 7 shows the tray inoffset relationship.

A plurality of holes 56 may also be defined in the bottom 18 of the tray16 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3 for support of various items as will beexplained hereinafter.

The manner of operation of the utility tray of this invention will nowbe described in detail. The ends of the elongated band 40 are separatedto wrap the same around column 12. The bolt 42 is then inserted throughthe holes defined adjacent each end of the elongated band, theparticular holes chosen depending on the diameter of the column 12. Thebracket 30 is then placed over the elongated band 40 with its legportions 32, 34 encompassing the same. The hole defined in theconnecting portion 36 of the bracket 30 is placed over the bolt 42. Thebolt 42 is then inserted through one of the holes 50, 52, 54 in thedepending flange 28 of the member 26 and the wing nut 44 is tightened onthe end of the bolt 42 until the V-shaped notches 38 in the leg portion32, 34 of the bracket 30 engage the column 12. Thus, the tray 16 is heldaway from the column 12 in a position convenient for the operator. Theentire device 10 may be slid up and down on the post 12 by loosening thewing nut 44. The tray 16 may be tilted to any desired degree as shown inFIGURE 1 and drill bits or the like may be placed on the bottom 18 incontact with the upstanding flange 22. The top of the tray is left openso that accessories longer than the tray itself may be supportedthereon. Such items as the chuck key for a drill press or a deburringtool or the like may be accommodated in the utility tray of the instantinvention by inserting a portion thereof through the holes 56 as shownin FIGURE 1.

The device of the instant invention may be made from any common materialsuch as sheet metal, aluminum, plastic, etc., but it is preferable thatthe tray portion 16 be formed of a ferrous material so that magnetic oilcans, drill caddies, and other such items will be held in movablerelationship thereto in whatever position the operator desires.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided animproved utility tray which is easily placed within reach of theoperator and which is instantly adjustable in every direction to suitthe whims of the operator.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided a device whichaccomplishes all the objects of the instant invention and othersincluding many advantages of great practical use and commercialimportance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A device for supporting accessories within easy reach of a machinetool, said machine tool having a column thereon, said device comprisinga rectangular bottom tray having a front edge, a rear edge and two sideedges, an elongated band having two ends in overlapping relationshipforming a circle adapted to circumscribe said column, means connectingsaid tray to said elongated band including a member integral with theunderside of the bottom and possessing a downwardly directed flangepositioned below the side edge of the tray nearer the band, said memberextending from one side edge more than half way to the other side edge,said downwardly directed flange being flat and vertical, a U-shapedbracket having a horizontal upper leg and a horizontal lower leg, and aflat and vertical connecting portion therebetween, the overlapping endsof said elongated band fitting vertically between said legs and injuxtaposition to said connecting portion, means defining an apertureadjacent one end of said band, means defining a plurality of apertureseach at a different distance from the other end of the band meansdefining a horizontal row of apertures in said vertical depending flangeand means defining an aperture in said vertical connecting portion ofsaid bracket, nonrotatable headed bolt means inserted through twooverlapping band apertures, through said bracket aperture and through aselected one of the flange apertures, the threaded portion of the boltbeing adjacent the depending flange and the head of the bolt beingadjacent the overlapping apertured ends of the band, and nut meansfastened on the exposed threaded end of said bolt means, and in usecontacting a side face of said flat and vertical flange.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each horizontal leg of said bracketis provided with an identical V-shaped notch at the end remote from saidconnecting portion to thus accommodate various diameter columns.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said bolt is fixed against rotationwith respect to said band by a folded back band end which conforms tothe shape of the bolt head.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tray includes perpendicularlyupstanding flanges on the upper side only of said bottom and at thefront and two side edges only.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tray bottom is planar, and hasmeans defining a plurality of spaced apertures extending with constantdiameters from one planar face to the other planar face, and said trayincludes upstanding flanges on the upper side only of said bottom, andat the front and two side edges only.

6. A column supportable device for holding articles within easy reach ofan operator, said device comprising a tray having front and rear edgesand two side edges, a band having its ends in overlapping relationshipand formed between its ends so as to contact and circumscribe part ofthe perimeter of the column, means connecting said tray to said bandincluding a member possessing a horizontal portion attached to said trayand a vertical flat downwardly directed flange vertically adjacent aside edge, a bracket having horizontal upper and lower legs and avertical flat connecting portion therebetween, the ends of said bandfitting snugly between said legs and in proximity to said connectingportion, means defining an aperture adjacent one end of said band, meansdefining a plurality of horizontally aligned apertures adjacent theother end of said band, means defining a horizontal row of apertures insaid vertical flange, and means defining an aperture in said connectingportion of said bracket, headed-bolt meas inserted threaded end foremostsuccessively through two band apertures, the bracket aperture and aselected one of the flange apertures, the head of the bolt beingpositioned contiguous to the band, and nut means threaded on the boltand in use drawn up tightly to the side of said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,341,848 Haensler June 1, 1920 2,309,333 Bahr Jan. 26, 1943 2,444,584Touchett July 6, 1948 2,699,203 White Jan. 11, 1955 2,940,809 HerzogJune 14, 1960 3,005,614 Daniell Oct. 24, 1961 3,071,338 Kaufman Jan. 1,1963

1. A DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING ACCESSORIES WITHIN EASY REACH OF A MACHINETOOL, SAID MACHINE TOOL HAVING A COLUMN THEREON, SAID DEVICE COMPRISINGA RETANGULAR BOTTOM TRAY HAVING A FRONT EDGE, A REAR EDGE AND TWO SIDEEDGES, AN ELONGATED BAND HAVING TWO ENDS IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIPFORMING A CIRCLE ADAPTED TO CIRCUMSCRIBE SAID COLUMN, MEANS CONNECTINGSAID TRAY TO SAID ELONGATED BAND INCLUDING A MEMBER INTEGRAL WITH THEUNDERSIDE OF THE BOTTOM AND POSSESSING A DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED FLANGEPOSITIONED BELOW THE SIDE EDGE OF THE TRAY NEARER THE BAND, SAID MEMBEREXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE EDGE MORE THAN HALF WAY TO THE OTHER SIDE EDGE,SAID DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED FANGE BEING FLAT AND VERTICAL, A U-SHAPEDBRACKET HAVING A HORIZONTAL UPPER LEG AND A HORIZONTAL LOWER LEG, AND AFLAT AND VERTICAL CONNECTING PORTION THEREBETWEEN, THE OVERLAPPING ENDSOF SAID ELONGATED BAND FITTING VERTICALLY